They are part of a growing movement in rural America that immerses many young people in a culture — not just conservative news outlets but also home and church environments — that emphasizes contemporary conservative values. It views liberals as loathsome, misinformed and weak, even dangerous. ...

He also speaks to former GOP Congressman J.C. Watts, a Baptist minister, who says:

The difference between Republicans and Democrats is that Republicans believe people are fundamentally bad, while Democrats see people as fundamentally good. We are born bad. ... We teach [children] how to be good. We become good by being reborn — born again.

Similarly, Sarah Pulliam Bailey looks at the nostalgia factor for Trump voters who want to resurrect a kind of Christian Mayberry. Says one North Carolina mayor, "We try to live the good old days, but it’s hard." (Also, turns out the 1960s Mayberry of The Andy Griffith Show was itself meant to hearken back to the 1930s.)

Monterey County Weeklyreports on SkeptiCamp, which features several of our own folks, and a large, friendly picture of the great Leonard Tramiel.

Remember when Mark Zuckerberg said he wasn't an atheist, and a billion articles sprang forth to repeat this single, unremarkable sentence? Well here's why it might matter: Zuck may be looking to run for president.

Daniel Schultz at Religion Dispatches has advice for those who think Democrats should do more overt outreach to people of faith: Don't bother:

There’s no evidence beyond anecdotes that emphasizing religious outreach is worth the potential risk. Nor is there good evidence it would be more effective than working on race and economics. Show me some numbers that say otherwise, and we’ll talk.

Much of the history of religion in America has been written to emphasize the triumph of pluralism. Perhaps rightly so. That has meant, however, that those who have never conceded the premise that all or most religions, or even most Christian denominations, are more or less equal, have not been taken as seriously in our histories as they might. Even today there are vast numbers of Americans who, although committed to live at peace with other religious groups, believe it is a matter of eternal life or death to convert members of those groups to their own faith. Like it or not, such evangelistic religion has been and continues to be a major part of the experiences of many ordinary Americans. The dynamics of such religious experience need to be understood if one is to understand large tracts of American culture. Indeed, the tensions between religious exclusivism and pluralism are among the leading unresolved issues shaping the 21st century world.

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Photo credit: chris jd via Foter.com / CC BY-NC

Linking to a story or webpage does not imply endorsement by Paul or CFI. Not every use of quotation marks is ironic or sarcastic, but it often is.

News items that mention political​ candidates are for informational purposes only and under no circumstances are to be interpreted as statements of endorsement or opposition to any political candidate. CFI is a nonpartisan nonprofit.

The Morning Heresy: "I actually read it." - Hemant Mehta

Comments:

#1 Mario (Guest) on Friday January 06, 2017 at 12:40pm

Schultz’s essay is a dreadful piece of writing, even by RD standards. Does RD employ an editor? Just asking.

#2 DA (Guest) on Monday January 09, 2017 at 5:10pm

“The difference between Republicans and Democrats is that Republicans believe people are fundamentally bad, while Democrats see people as fundamentally good. We are born bad. ... We teach [children] how to be good. We become good by being reborn — born again.”

Figure he’s a former minister, because that’s a Christian attitude moreso than a Republican one. Obviously, there’s a lot of overlap there, though. It’s a Christian attitude that we are born bad, original sin and all. It’s possible some non-Christian Republicans have internalized this from their Christian surroundings, but in principle, it’s a Christian viewpoint.

#3 Randy (Guest) on Thursday January 12, 2017 at 5:13pm

“Washington Post Express”

And yet, a “She For He” march is long overdue on this continent.

From genital mutilation, to calls for genocide, to forced parenting (and un-parenting), to suicide and war and prison and rape…

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Paul Fidalgo has been communications director of the Center for Inquiry since 2012. He holds a master’s degree in political management from George Washington University, and has worked previously for FairVote: The Center for Voting and Democracy and the Secular Coalition for America. Paul is also an actor and musician whose work includes five years performing with the American Shakespeare Center. He lives in Maine with his wife and kids. His blog is Near-Earth Object, and he tweets at @paulfidalgo.